~ Researching Russell Co, Kentucky

Monthly Archives: June 2013

I spent the morning at the library, but the film I was hoping to see had not arrived yet, so I spent time with some tax records. Now I’m home again and a storm is brewing outside, so I thought I’d do some “thinking out-loud” to process information that I already have before I start looking for new stuff and to take my mind off the weather.

Polly Stephens is a mystery for me. Here’s what I know and what I think it may mean.

Mary “Polly” Stephens was the daughter of Welcome and Nancy Stephens. Polly was one of the heirs listed in Welcome’s estate settlement in 1840.

Based on ages listed in census records, Polly was born around 1807 in Kentucky. There is a tombstone for a Polly Stephens in a cemetery with several other Stephens family members with the dates 1807 – 1894. So did Polly Stephens marry a Stephens? There are many cousin-cousin marriages in this family, so that doesn’t seem unlikely. Going on this assumption, I’m trying to figure out who the spouse would be.

@1807 – birth of Mary “Polly” Stephens

1830 – birth of Elizabeth Stephens listed with Polly in 1850 census. Polly would be around 23 years old. This may not have been Polly’s first child, so I’d begin looking for a marriage around 1825.

1837 – Today’s trip to the library revealed a court record from the January Term, 1837 in which George F. Harris appeared to answer a charge of bastardy made by Polly Stephens, but Polly did not appear as requested. Therefore, no action was taken against George. To read about bastardy laws during this time, click here. Who was George Harris? He was Polly’s cousin, son of Welcome’s sister, Dorcas. She would have been 30 years old and he would have been 34.

1838 – I see a Polly Stephens with no land listed in the Russell County tax records. She is listed 2 lines above her father, Welcome. When I go back to the library, I will look at previous years to see when she appears (and hopefully, to see who disappears as a potential spouse!) After more research, I see that she was first listed in 1838. She is listed again in 1840 – 1846 now through 1855 (the last year that I checked this morning at the library)

1840 – Polly is not listed in the 1840 census for Russell County although she is listed in the tax records. I will take a look at family members to see if someone might have an “extra” female of the right age living in the household.

1843 – birth of Lucy Stephens – who I believe may be the daughter of Polly. According to Lucy’s son’s birth record, Lucy was born in Russell County.

1847 – birth of Andy Stephens listed with Polly in 1850 census. Polly would be about 40 years old.

I searched for additional court records during this time for Polly and found none in Russell County.

1850 – Mary Stephens (age 43) is listed in the Adair County (Russell County’s next door county) census with Elizabeth (age 19), Lucy (age 7) and AJ (age 3). Mary lives next door to Sherwood Stephens, her brother. Originally, this is the listing that made me think that Mary “Polly” was the mother of Lucy. As I think about the tax lists I was looking at this morning, I’m thinking that perhaps Lucy and AJ could be the children of a family member. If they ARE her children, (and assuming she wasn’t a “loose” woman, which perhaps was too hasty with my new information!) then she would have had a husband in 1846. Why would she be listed in the tax records of that time if she had a spouse? I should look at guardian records for a clue.

I’m working through my “Stephens File” and I’ve decided to transcribe documents that I’ve scanned or downloaded, but not really examined. At this point, I’m looking for clues in collateral lines that will help me with my direct line, but I thought I’d go ahead and put the transcription on my blog in case it is helpful to anyone else.

This William Stephens (1750 – 1829) was the step-brother of my Welcome Stephens (@1780-1840). Both men died in Russell County, Kentucky. The will can be found on FamilySearch here. Directly after the will is the renunciation from William’s wife Anna (Susannah Fox) who did not feel she was being adequately provided for.

1st, I, William Stephenssenr am old and in a low state of health, but in my reasonable senses thank God for it. I do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say

2nd, I do give my son William Stephens junr all my blacksmiths tools

3rd, I also give to my son Stephen An Stephens my three year old mare, biggest bed and furniture and still,

4th, I give to Anny Wilson daughter of Anny Wilson deceased all the money that her father Moses Wilson is owing me.

5th, I give to my daughter Lishey Hampton all that is in her hands, by her paying ten dollars in work to supporting my old wife

6th, I give to my grandson Jordan Hampton my gun. I also give to my granddaughter Hester Hampton a small bed and furniture (interlined before signed)

8th, I give to my grandson William An Stephens all my shoe making tools, hand saw, drawing knife augers pan handle and a note that said a Stephens is owing me

9th, I give to my two sons (to wit) William Stephens junr and Stephen An Stephens all my irons and iron tools except there above mentioned to be equally divided between them two. I do give all the above mentioned to them to hold forever. As for all my daughters except those above mentioned is received their full part of my estate (interlined before signed) I do also leave all my personal estate home hold and kitchen furniture money in hand and all that is owing except that above mentioned to the support of my wife after my just debts and funeral charges is paid. I leave my son William Stephens a guardian for my wife and to sell all the property that she don’t need at present and keep the money for her use as she needs and at the decease of my wife if any things remains to be equally divided between William Stephens my son and Stephen An Stephens my son, and Obed Stephens and to be enjoyed by them forever, as hereunto I have set my hand and affixed my seal this December 26th 1828 signed sealed and delivered and for the last will and testament of the above named William Stephens in the presence of us Jacob Petitjohn, Moses Wilson (it would seem that this is William’s son-in-law, mentioned above), David Roach

At a county court began and held for the county of Russell at the courthouse in the town of Jamestown on Monday the 19th of January 1829. The last will and testament of William Stephens deceased was produced in court and proven by the oaths of Jacob Petitjohn and Moses Wilson subscribing witness thereto and ordered to be recorded.

To the county court of Russell County, I Anna Stephens widow and relict of William Stephens deceased, not being satisfied with the provisions made for me by the will of my late husband, do by these presents declare that I will not take or accept the provisions made for me by such will or any part thereof and hereby renounce all benefit which I might claim by said will witness my hand and seal this 19th day of January 1829. Witness: George F. Harris, John Ard (George Harris was the son of Dorcas Stephens Harris, William’s sister. John Ard was the son-in-law of William’s brother, Welcome)

At a county court began and held for the county of Russell at the courthouse in the town of Jamestown on Monday the 19th day of January, 1829. This is a renunciation of Anna Stephens widow and relict of William Stephens deceased, to the provisions made her in his last will and testament, was produced in court and proven by the oaths of John Ard and George Harris and ordered to be recorded.

Summer is here and school is out! I thought that I would jump right back into my genealogy research, but I am having a surprisingly difficult time! Where to begin? What do I want to work on first?

I’m too easily distracted and can’t seem to stay on track. I thought I’d take my binder and pick a decade for the Welcome/William/Andrew Stephens families and pick 1 think to try to look for, but as I go through my notes, I keep “rabbit trailing” and end up with nothing done at all. So I thought that perhaps I could put some thoughts into the blog to try to keep myself on track as I make a plan.

I’ve decided that I’m going to try to pinpoint the year that Andrew and his father William left Alabama. What I have:

1850 – William, his wife Dorothy and 5 children – including Andrew – live in Marion County, Alabama in District 14. Living next door to the family is Jacob Wigginton and family. I will begin to follow this family closely as I believe they are related to Dorothy. (William Stephens and Jacob Wigginton were listed on consecutive pages in the 1840 Tishomingo County, Mississippi census.)

William is also listed in the 1850 Alabama State Census. There are several Wigginton families listed as well, but no Jacob. There is at least 1 Wigginton that I see living near William who was not listed in the search results, so I need to spend more time here. NOTE: there are 2 families with a head of household named William Stephens.

1855 – Alabama conducted a state census. There are no records for Marion County, but there are for Franklin County (where William and Andrew are found in 1860) but William’s family is not found.

1860 – Jacob Wigginton (age 67) lives with the James Wigginton (age 26) family (father?) in Marion County, Alabama

William Stephens – now lives in Franklin County (1 county north of Marion County) and Andrew and his small family are living with him.

Andrew (son of William) is listed a 2nd time in Franklin County living next door to Polly Steavens who I believe may be Lucy Stephen’s mother as well as Andrew’s aunt. (In 1880, Aunt Pollie, age 70, lives with Andrew and Lucy (age 36))

Why would Andrew and his family go from Ripley Co, Missouri to Franklin Co, Alabama to Metcalfe Co, Kentucky within 2-3 years? According to the Alabama Pioneers website, there was a drought in 1860 in Alabama – could this be the reason for the move?

1861 – Andrew and Lucy’s first child, Nancy, dies in June in Metcalfe Co, Kentucky and a 2nd child – William Dudley – is born in October. (Andrew’s uncle – Sherwood – settled in Metcalfe Co between 1850 and 1860)

1866 – Andrew and Lucy Stephens “of Russell County” give evidence to birth of a nephew’s children for a widow’s pension.

1868 – Russell Co land sale between Andrew Stephens and William Hopper.

1870 – William Stephens is listed in the Federal Census in Russell Co, Kentucky. I cannot find Andrew in any 1870 census. Clearly, Andrew should be in Russell County by now.

1876 – Russell County land sale between AJ Stephens and Wesley Flanagan and AJ Stephens and GC Bennett.

Conclusion: It appears that Andrew and Lucy Stephens may have moved to Russell County around 1865. I cannot pinpoint when William Stephens arrived

Next Step: There are no microfilm records for Marion or Franklin County, Alabama for the correct time period to determine when they may have left. The ACPL has microfilm for Russell County tax records from 1826 – 1856 and Andrew does not appear here. I will order tax records for 1856-1874 from the FHL to see if I can find when Andrew appears in Russell County. There is a book for Franklin County, Alabama – Old land records of Franklin County, Alabama / Margaret Matthews Cowart. – at the ACPL that I will look at for clues as well.